Be sure to seek out your local farmers markets. They are worth the trip and return healthy, nutritious food for your efforts. Supporting your local farmers is an investment in our own future.

You can find vegetables, home made breads, farm fresh eggs, milk, cheese, fruit and to make things even better - meet the producers. Use a trip to the market to make some friends, enlighten your awareness of what is involved in creating your food, and get outside and enjoy the summer weather. Let's go!!

Had a great time at the Master Gardener Show, Crossville, TN. www.ccmga.org. We got to meet a lot of new people, hear some great ideas and share ours. We had some requests for the design layout to be posted on line. So please check it out! A design takes a while to layout ~ but even a longer time to develop. A "good, functional, truly sustainable" sight is a long term, well thought out plan. It does not happen by chance, nor does it happen without the input of many knowledgable people. Permaculture people are just plain "share-happy". We met over 500 people at the event. We had fun sharing our story during our presentation and we were eager to share answers with the questions presented to us. The weather was great on Saturday and Sunday, but the company was great always. The Master Gardener group took care of us as vendors looking out for us with food, drink and comfort.

Red Wigglers ~ Eisenia Fetida - will be making an appearance at the Master Gardener show in Crossville, TN on April 25, 26 & 27th. We will be demonstrating the value of these great earth moving participants and how we can encourage their efforts. Come out and see us! We will be incorporating their contribution to the permaculture plan of healthier living and healthier communities.

Pictured is a Tulip Tree (Magnolia tree) (Liriodendron tulipifera). Planted about 6 years ago. It is about 10-12 feet high. There are two trees about 25 feet apart. It is important to anticipate the final growth size. Clearly it is indicated “plant 20 feet apart” however when you first plant them – them look so small! They can’t possibly mean that far apart! But, like children, they grow quickly and get bigger quicker than we think. These two look like they are doing well, in spite of deer snacking. They bloom really early in the spring – kind of a “wake up call”. Low maintenance is their middle name – works for me! Thanks for looking!